Know what got me in your recent column regarding Kyle Orton? You wrote, “Here’s the strangest thing for a quarterback Broncomaniacs wanted to run out of town a year ago: Denver never was as dependent on John Elway to the extent this team must count on Orton now.” Did Denver have the Orange Crush when Elway played? Pretty sure that was before he arrived. Was Terrell Davis a rookie in 1983? I am sure Elway might have liked a rushing attack during his three Super Bowl losses. I give Orton credit for getting up from the body slams, but we know his best is a C+.

BK, favorite number is 7

Kiz: That Elway lost Super Bowls because he had to play one against 22 is the biggest myth to grow from a brilliant career that needs no embellishment. Elway never had to produce 85 percent of the Denver offense, as Orton has been asked to do so far in 2010. During the 1980s, Elway was blessed to play alongside Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith, Louis Wright, Keith Bishop, Sammy Winder and Steve Watson. There are 22 Pro Bowl selections on the resumes of those six guys. Diss them at your own risk.

Fit to line bird cages.

Geez, Kiz. As Spiro Agnew might have said, you are a nattering nabob of negativism. The Avalanche won a fast-paced, exciting game against Chicago on opening night, in front of a sellout crowd and the 1996 Stanley Cup team. And the focus of your column was Colorado is rebuilding on the cheap. What gives?

Brian, bleeds burgundy and blue

Kiz: When Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg aren’t in the house for a January game against Phoenix, kindly come back and count the empty seats at the Pepsi Center as Paul Stastny skates.

Rejoicing in replays.

I’m in favor of replays for all baseball issues except balls and strikes. And I would not even be opposed to having the home-plate umpire carry a handheld device that shows an electronic strike zone. Then the ump could call a perfect game with no arguments.

Betty, Erie

Kiz: Love all my 21st-century gadgets, from the coffee made from my single-shot dispenser to the iPad used to surf the wild e-mail waters. But count me as old school when the subject is replay. The human element is a large part of the drama that hooks me on sports. We have to deal with it when a second baseman commits an error. So why doesn’t the same apply to the ump? Oh, silly me. I forgot. Umps are subhuman.

Delusional McD.

When the Broncos shipped running back Peyton Hillis to Cleveland, I just couldn’t believe it was allowed to happen. Coach Josh McDaniels seems hypersensitive to anyone on the team (or perhaps in life) whom he feels disrespects him. I suspect McDaniels has an inferiority complex. He’s probably even delusional.

Tony, Los Angeles

Kiz: Can I let you in on a little secret? When I wrote Hillis has run to infinity twice since he joined the Browns, my tongue might have been planted in my cheek. The Broncos could use Hillis. No doubt. But this offense has bigger issues.

Not even T.D.

Hey, Kiz. Love reading you. But I think you and most of the other Broncomaniacs are dead wrong about Hillis being the lost savior of the Denver running game. When are we going to understand the root cause (the offensive line), rather than just blame the symptom (running backs)? Heck, we could put T.D. in his prime in the current Denver backfield, and Mr. Davis would get buried because there’s nowhere to go.

Bryan, Portland, Ore.

Kiz: Bingo. We have a winner. The offensive line is the No. 1 problem. Although I do wonder if TD could strap on a helmet today and have a better chance of scoring from the red zone than anybody on the current roster. On only one healthy leg, offensive tackle Ryan Clady is among the best pass protectors in the NFL. But when it comes to run-blocking? Not so much.

A “freezer” in Denver?

And today’s parting shot is a big idea for the Broncos: When he falls asleep, you think 348-pound nose tackle Jamal Williams ever dreams of toting that rock?

“On fourth-down situations, particularly near the opponent’s goal line, do you think McDaniels would consider the use of a lineman as a fullback? We older folks remember the Chicago Bears using defensive lineman William ‘The Fridge’ Perry, left, in short yardage.”